Glamorous, sophisticated, elegant and very sunny, Nice is nice all year round but in the summer it’s positively glowing.
After Paris, it’s Nice that attracts the most tourists and it certainly caters to them with plenty to see and do or you can just relax on a beach and listen to the sea gently lap in and out.
Nice city guide
Best way to find your bearings: The Tourist Office offers a 1, 2 or 3 day Riviera Pass with access to museums and sites in and around Nice, including a guided bus tour. For €4 extra per day you can add public transport to your pass.
Wander: In June and July it gets very hot, take plenty of breaks to cool down and sip a chilled drink – there’s lots of choices and not much beats sitting at a café watching the world go by in the sun. The wiggly streets can be shady or find a cool bar to rest at in the Cours Saleya in the main square. There are plenty of public gardens where you can relax under the trees or splash about in fountains. The Promenade de Paillon in the city centre has a water mirror feature, fountains and mist sprays and you’ll find pop up bars selling cool drinks.
Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais and take the lift to the Colline du Chateau at the eastern end for fabulous views over Nice and a fun place for a picnic or to chill out.
Don’t miss out on the markets! Cours Saleya market is famous for its colourful stalls and fabulous produce. There’s a daily market here – from Tuesday to Saturday it’s all about food. On Sundays its mostly flowers and some food and on Mondays its antiques and flea market stalls. There’s another market at Place Liberation which is where the locals go rather than tourists and the food here is brilliant.
Discover more about the markets of Nice
Eating and Drinking: Whether it’s a cocktail at a swish bar round the port that floats your boat or a chilled glass of rosé by the market place in Cours Saleya, you’re bound to find a favourite stop off here. Food is very Mediterranean in style. The iconic Hotel Negresco has a great terrace bar and there are hundreds of small cafés and bars to fall in love with.
Authentic restaurants in Nice where the locals go
4 of the best restaurants in Nice that are also great value
Top Tip: The 3 or 6 day Cote d’Azur Pass offers entrance to more than 160 activities in Nice and in 7 cities and 60 towns on the French Riviera including museums, wine tastings, tree top climbing, craft workshops – really great value. Details: en.cotedazur-card.com. Take a boat trip round the bay, or a Segway ride through town to see Nice in style!
How to do Nice on a budget – yes it’s glamorous and a playground for the super rich, but a break in Nice doesn’t have to break the bank, check out our top tips.
More on Nice
Ten things to do in Nice
The lost crystal casino of Nice
The royal playground of the south of France
Visit to the Matisse Museum, Nice
Nice Tourism website
